Disclosure :: This post was written by Dr. Anita Gouri of Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry.
Busting Common Myths in Dentistry: The Oral Hygiene Edition
On a daily basis in our office, especially with our pre-adolescent and teenage patients, we hear a variety of excuses for poor hygiene. “I ran out of floss” and “I’m too tired” are among the most common that we’re able to quickly see through! But there are many common myths that our patients hold as true beliefs that are actually causing damage, and we want to make sure to address it!
Myth #1: A Waterpik or Waterflosser is the same as flossing.
While these are GREAT tools, especially if you have braces or permanent retainers, Waterpiks/Waterflossers are NOT substitutes for adequate plaque removal from BETWEEN the teeth. Much like rinsing with mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing with the bristles of a toothbrush, you need the physical contact of floss scraping each side of the tooth to properly clean. But a Waterpik is great for removing chunks of food and debris that would otherwise block areas that need to be flossed and brushed, especially in the presence of orthodontic brackets and wires.
Myth #2: You must press hard on your toothbrush for proper plaque removal.
This is a big one! Many people who have trouble removing plaque think they need to press harder on their toothbrush to get clean — adding this pressure to the toothbrush can actually wear away at tooth enamel and/or cause your gums to recede! What most people don’t realize is that they simply need to brush more thoroughly than they’ve been doing, which means brushing for a longer amount of time and/or focusing on commonly missed spots like along the gum line or around the very last tooth in the mouth. How do you know if you’re pressing too hard? Take a look at your toothbrush’s bristles — if they are even slightly frayed, you’re pressing too hard!
A better solution to help with thorough brushing is to get an electric toothbrush, specifically one with sonic wave technology. Sonic toothbrushes truly are more effective at plaque removal, provided the toothbrush is still applied to all surfaces of each tooth and for long enough. That is the biggest “caveat” with electric toothbrushes: kids often become “lazier” when they switch to an electric toothbrush, thinking it magically reduces the work involved. Technique is still important! So ensure that your child is still brushing thoroughly and for the full two minutes, even with a sonic brush!
Myth #3: “Brushing and flossing make my gums bleed, so I avoid cleaning my gums.”
A lack of flossing and brushing near the gums is what causes your gums to bleed! Not the other way around! Bleeding gums are inflamed gums. Plaque and food debris have been allowed to accumulate far too long near the gums, and inflammation is the body’s natural way of trying to get rid of these irritants! As a result, inflamed, swollen gums bleed easy, as they are tender from being “dirty” for so long. The only way to address this is to continue regularly brushing along the gum line and floss between the teeth every day, to remove the source of the inflammation: plaque. As the gums are allowed to heal, you will notice that the bleeding lessens after a few days of sticking with a proper oral hygiene regimen. The more you avoid cleaning properly, the worse the inflammation gets, which can leads to more serious conditions like gum disease.
Should your gums bleed despite having excellent oral hygiene, it may be a sign of some other underlying problem, such as periodontal disease or a food trap. It is important to visit your child’s pediatric dentist to get this addressed as soon as possible!
Want to know if something else you’ve heard is fact or fiction about oral hygiene? Come visit us for more info!
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Other Dental Related Topics that May Be of Interest ::
- Why Does My Child Have White Spots on Their Teeth?
- What if My Kid Freaks Out at the Dentist?
- Tips on Weaning Your Little One From Thumb & Finger Sucking
- Sleep Disordered Breathing: More Common Than You Think!
- Why Take X-Rays Routinely at the Dentist?
- Teething Toddler Woes: Tips and Tricks For Relief
- The Most Common Causes of Cavities
- Four Reasons Moms Should Reconsider Fruit Snacks
- Why Is My Child Grinding Their Teeth At Night?
- The Truth About Tongue and Lip-Ties
- The Most Common Causes Of Discolored Teeth
About the Author
Dr. Anita Gouri, a pediatric dentist, has been practicing in Lafayette for 17 years and is the owner of Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry. She graduated from LSU School of Dentistry in 2006, receiving honors including Outstanding Achievement in Pediatric Dentistry, Honors in Research, and the Carl A. Baldridge Academic Scholarship. She completed her residency in pediatric dentistry at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC in 2008 and became a board certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2009. In 2010, her research on dental pain assessment was published in Pediatric Dentistry. She also has specialized training in treating babies and children who have tongue and lip ties. She is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Louisiana Dental Association, the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, as well as the C. Edmund Kells and Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Societies. Dr. Gouri, her husband, and their two children enjoy travel, Saints football, good food and good friends.
